CO129-573-2 Export of torpedo boats to China 14-5-1938 - 5-10-1938 — Page 8

It is

typical that these boats

+ apparently 18 more to be exported from U.K.

are allowed.

question of stopping them is they reach H. R. Premmably

is to

the

deferred

hel

the idea

1- to be made to

enable payment to be

the manufacturers.

8

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6.6

ا 165 7

10 $

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It would certainly save some embarrassment

if these boats were transported to Canton by rail,

but the fact remains that their export in any way

would seem to be contrary to the Hague Convention

which we have told Hong Kong to apply on a de facto

basis. At the same time, it would appear to be

impossible, in view of the Barcelona Convention, to

prohibit their export, and I agree with the

Admiralty view that it is most desirable that they

should be allowed to proceed. More than these two

boats are now concerned, as licenses have been

applied for for several more, and the Admiralty wish

a general decision to be taken regarding them. In

the case of those which have not yet left this

country, the Barcelona Convention clearly does not

apply, but in spite of the fact that we have told

Hong Kong to apply the Hague Convention in practice

I suggest that it is important that these boats

should

Page

9

Page

should be allowed to reach the Chinese Govt.

The Admiralty are inclined to agree and the

recent F.0. view appears to be on the same

lines.

I suggest that we should write to the

F.0. semi-officially, enclosing a copy of 6

and saying that while we feel that it would be

inconsistent with our previous decision to apply

the Hague Convention on a de facto basis in

Hong Kong, we consider that it is desirable

that these boats and others should be allowed to

reach the Chinese Govt., preferably by rail

rather than under their own power from Hong Kong,

and we accordingly suggest that they should be

allowed to proceed and that no objection should

be raised to the issue of licenses for other

boats exported from this country.

? So proceed.

And

copy

to Cedry

31T

C

P. Roger

10.6.38.